Greetings, my humans! So, I know you all have been waiting very anxiously... *crickets chirp* That's the spirit! Anyway, here is my brand new story. *gestures madly to the majestic work of literature before you*

Right. I'll stop now. Anywho, welcome to Masquerade! So, I wrote this because I have recently gotten into Masquerade. Like, really into it. I am unashamed but obsessed. Don't judge me. I have a bunch of fics lined up for this show and I'm really super excited, so I hope you guys like it! I wanted to try to do something original with my first one here, so... I hope I did a good job. Oh! Also, I'm on Archive of Our Own now! So I'll be posting on there too if that's easier for you to use.

Oh, and don't worry, this is just the intro. I'll post chapter 1 within the week.

Disclaimer - Unfortunately, Miraculous Ladybug does not belong to me. There would be much more fluff if it did.


Intro

Marinette was tired. It had been a long night, an Akuma had shown up out of nowhere and taken forever for her and Chat Noir to take care of it. By the time they were done she barely had time to fall back asleep before it was time for school. Not to mention on the way to school all she could hear was praise for the superhero duo. Normally this wasn't a bad thing, but the stress of keeping up the two identities was weighing on her mind. Her parents had threatened to ground her again because they thought her tiredness was from hanging out with Alya, and they didn't want her grades to slip.

They had no idea it was because their daughter was Ladybug, and Marinette was almost to the point where she was just going to tell them. And of course, she got plenty of insults daily from Chloe, who would then go home to prance around in her Ladybug costume. It was infuriating!

Marinette sighed as she walked through the classroom door, sitting down in her normal seat beside Alya. She distantly registered that her best friend was talking to her, asking her what was wrong, but she brushed it off as tiredness. She loved Alya, but she just wasn't in the mood to be interrogated. She wasn't in the mood for anything really, not even seeing Adrien. Of course, who best to come along and ruin it than Chloe?

The blonde strutted into the classroom, followed as always by her "best friend" Sabrina. Upon seeing Marinette she walked up to her desk, a smirk on her face.

"What's that matter Marinette? Up all night wishing you were as great as me?" Marinette groaned, setting her head on her arms.

"Go away, Chloe." Chloe gasped, staring at her.

"How dare you! You can't ignore me!" She paused, watching Marinette as another evil smirk formed. "I bet you're just jealous that I'm such good friends with Ladybug. I saw her last night, you know. She's so amazing... Unlike you." And with that, Marinette snapped.

"You know what, Chloe," she said, pushing her chair out and standing up. "I've had enough. You always think you can push me around and insult me whenever you want and get away with it, but you can't. You don't know me at all! So stop acting like you do. Stop pretending you're all that because your dad is the mayor, and stop looking down on me like I'm not worth the ground I stand on. Stop expecting me to bend to your every whim and break at every insult. Stop comparing me to Ladybug!" With that she pushed past the stunned Chloe and ran out of the classroom, leaving her peers frozen behind her and expressions of shock on the faces of Alya, Nino, and Adrien, who had just stepped into the room.


Marinette ran down the hall and burst through the school doors, where the light of the sun blinded her for a brief moment. The few passerby on the street paused at her appearance, but after a moment simply continued on their way. What was it to them that some girl was running out of school?

The dark haired girl gave a shuddering sigh, leaning against the door and trying to fight against the stinging sensation in her eyes. She wasn't going to cry. Not here. She shook her head, bracing herself before continuing down the stairs. She couldn't go home- her parents were working and they would know something was wrong. She couldn't stay here, though, for all she knew her friends could be chasing after her. The last thing she needed was Alya interrogating her about her outburst, or Nino trying miserably to cheer her up. She didn't even want to see Adrien after that, even though out of the three of them he'd probably have the best approach to comfort her. Over the last few years she and Adrien had grown closer, and she was no longer as awkward around him. Of course, a smile from him could still make her knees weak, but she wasn't a blubbering mess anymore.

I probably messed that up too, she thought, recalling the look on Adrien's face as she had brushed past him during her escape. She sighed again, looking around at her surroundings. Her wandering had brought her to the park, which was empty at this time of day. She made her way over to a bench hidden in the shade of a large tree, sitting down with her head hung low. After a moment she gave into the tears, finally letting them fall. Everything that was going on, it was too much. She couldn't take it anymore. She couldn't handle the stress of living a double life any longer. It was at that thought, though, that Tikki flew out of her purse.

"Marinette, you don't have to let her comments get to you. Chloe's like that to everyone."

"I know, Tikki," the girl said softly, trying to calm her tears. "But it's too much! I can't do it anymore, I can't be Ladybug and Marinette." She shook her head, clasping her hands together and squeezing tightly. "I told you this when you first picked me."

"But Marinette, you've done great! Look at all the good you've done for everyone. It doesn't matter if anyone knows who you are under the mask."

"Yes, it does! What about my parents? They're making it harder for me to even be Ladybug in the first place. Then there's Alya, who is dead set on finding out Ladybug's identity."

"I know your parents aren't making things easier, but-"

"No, I can't hear this right now. Please Tikki, just… let me be."

"But if Hawkmoth-!"

"I'll be fine, Tikki!" Marinette shouted. She regretted it instantly, the little kwami getting a sad look on her face before returning to Marinette's purse. The teen girl sighed again, dropping her head into her hands. "Great, now I've upset her too," she whispered.

Marinette stayed like this, head down and eyes closed as she tried to stop the flow of tears. It was because of this that she never saw the oddly colored butterfly, flying closer and closer to her. Had she seen it, she might have been able to avoid it, to prevent the mess that was about to happen. However, she didn't see it. So she didn't notice as it reached her, and flew into her earrings.

"Lady Masquerade," a voice said, and Marinette raised her head, a purplish outline of a butterfly hovering in front of her face. "I can help you get revenge on those who have ignored who you truly are, and expose their secrets. In return, you only need to help me get the Miraculous of Chat Noir." An uncharacteristically evil smile spread across her face, and deep inside her purse terror filled the mind of her kwami.

"Yes, Hawkmoth."


Soooo... What'd ya think? I think it was good, but I'm biased. Tell me what you think! I'll post chapter 1 soon.

Oh, and Happy Halloween guys!

Peace out,

~ Attic